Cops get cracking ahead of Puja

“Any one found using prohibited crackers will be picked up. We have a list of 55 types of banned crackers as it was notified by the Pollution Control Board,” said Jawed Shamim,Joint Commissioner of Police (Headquarters).

According to Shamim,there will be 14 watch towers in the city,including all the famous ghats on the day of immersion. Six towers have been set up at important ghats and the rest will be at important intersections. As a part of a huge arrangement,226 special police pickets will be set up in the city on Saturday.

For a strict vigil,reserve force will be present from late afternoon at 30 police stations till midnight. But this year the police will mainly focus at night as far as vigil is concerned. “It is always seen that residents come out on the roads after midnight. So we have arranged for a special night vigil. Two officers will be on duty at each police stations who will patrol till morning,” said Shamim.

Police have also identified 12 police stations as trouble-prone areas during Diwali. The list includes posh localities like Ballygunge,Shakespeare Sarani and some parts of central Kolkata. Till Wednesday,city police confiscated more than 13,000 kg of banned fire crackers and sealed 10 warehouses for stocking banned crackers.

Around 34 persons were arrested for trading or smuggling of banned crackers.

As an anti-sabotage measure,17 major temples in the city,including Kalighat and Thanthania,will be under special protection team. A total 77 radio squads will be on the roads to maintain liaison between different teams of cops,including 10 Quick Response Team of police.

For the first time,police have inducted NCC cadets,members of civil defence and 30 members of Disaster Management Group for being deployed in the city.

“Around 10 quick reaction teams will be posted at several areas. The teams will be moving in the city and keep a watch on the situation,” added Shamim.